Metal window frame



"' OC- 24, 1957 v. RQSARLO CARTAGENA 3,348,353

METAL WINDOW FRAME l Filed June 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 3'

M o v @ma az/ /34 i ll/fwor Rosario Managem) 1N VENTOR.

' 0Ct- 24, 1967 v` ROSARIO CARTAGENA 393489353 METAL WINDOW FRAME Filed June 16, 1965 2 Sheets--Sheerl 2 Vicof Rosaria (Ca/'fammi INVENTOR.

United States Patent() l 3,348,353 METAL WINDOW FRAME Victor Rosario Cartagena, 629 Yunque St., Summit Hills, i

San Juan, Puerto Rico 009.20 Filed June 16, 1965, Ser. No. 464,379 6 Claims. (Cl. 52-658) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to Window frames and more particularly to metal window frames having a unitary.A

hollow rbody of continuous cross-section formed from a single blank.

It is an object of this invention to provide a metal window frame that can be quickly, cheaply and `etliciently manufactured from readily available material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a metal window frame that may be easily and readily mounted in existing window openings.

It is another object of this invention to provide a metal windowframe that can bemanufactured from metallic materials that are light and easily machined and-that may be' shipped and stored in unfolded long narrow strips.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a metal window frame of continuous cross-section for flush mountingA of the frame in window openings thereby facilitating the mounting of the frame.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a sheet metal blank which is a rectangular window frame.

These together wii'th other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a metal window frame constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a metal blank used in conjunction with the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the metal blank of FIGURE 3, illustrating the lirst step in the manufacturing or folding of the metal Window frame of FIGURE l; and

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are views illustrating further steps in the manufacture of the metal window frame.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, numeral 10 refers generally to the finished metal window frame of the present invention. Frame 10 is made from a blank 12, which, Ias may be seen in FIGURE 3, is longer than it is wide. Blank 12 is preferably of an easily machined lightweight metal material such as aluminum or the like.

The window frame 10 is constructed from a blank 12 in the following manner: first, V-shaped notches or cutouts 14 are cut along one edge of the blank in three places to divide the blank in four portions, as seen in FIGURE 3. These portions Will alternate in length, to provide the sides, top and bottom of the window frame 10. Three precut for use forming-` 3,348,353 Patented Oct. 2.4, 1967 hexagonal cutout portions 16 are cut in the frame blank 12in lateral-alignment with the V-shaped notches 14.

Holes 18 are cut along the blank 12 for receiving screws` or the like to fasten framey 10 in a window receiving opening. Larger holes 20 kare cut along the blank in lateral alignment with vholes 18 so when the blank is formed into a frame, holes 20 will bev concentric with holes 18 as noted in FIGURE 2. Holes 20 allow access to the interior of the frame by a screwdriver or the like in order to drive screws through holes 18. Holes 22 are also provided along the blanks in longitudinal alignment with holes '20 and are utilized in mounting a Window or the like within the frame 10. Y

'I'he .blank 12y is folded along longitudinal parallel fold lines 24, 26, 28 and 30. The various stages of construction of the metal 'window frame 10 from the blank 12 are shownin FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7.1It is seen in FIGURE 4 that rst foldsiare made along linesf24 and 30, whereby first and fourth sections 32 and 34 are rfolded 90 from` the planerof the blank 12. FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate that the next folds are along lines 26 and 28, thereby forming second,thyird and fifth sections 36, 38 and 40, It`may be see'nin FIGURES 4 through? that ywhen the folds along lines 24, 26, 28 and 30 are completed, therebyV forming lparallel,longitudinally extendings'ections 32, 34,' 36, 38 and 40, a long memberof box-like or rectangular4 cross-section is formedReferring toFIGURES 6 and 7 -it is notedjthat sections 32 and 34;*are overlapped and may he' yjoined together permanently in a manner welll known to those skilled inthe art for example by flux welding. Section 34 extends'upwardly of the box-like member .and formsl a flange 42 useful for a purpose to be explained below.y

`Referringfnow to FIGURE `7 it-may be seen that the hexagonal and V-shape'd cutout portions, when the blank is'complet'e'ly folded, form a V-shaped recess in the folded blank. It.willbe .appreciated that there are three of suchl recesses so formed. To form the completed frame 10 out of the box-like member, the box-like member is folded along lines 44 thereby creating mitered corner joints in which the edges 48 `and 50 of the V-shaped recess are in abutting relationship. The tabs 52 and 54 are integrally formed with the blank 12. When the box-like member is folded to forrn the frame 10 the tabs 52 and 54 are bent inwardly as at 56 to form a rigid connection for the frame 10.

It will be noted that the frame vin completed form provides a at mounting surface 58 which may be mounted ush with a window frame opening. It will be further noted that the flange 42, previously mentioned, forms an inner mounting flange which will provide an abutment surface for a window mounted in the frame 10 and which will enable the frame to be substantially leakproof. This advantage of being leakproof is further provided by the complete box-like rectangular construction of the frame body whereby once the frame is mounted in a Window opening, fastened therein by screws by any conventional means, and properly caulked as is well known in the lart, there are n0 openings in the frame to allow water leakage.

It will be appreciated that frame 12 may be of any desired length to provide frames of different rectangular size for different size window openings. It may also be appreciated that any number of cutout portions 14 and 16 may -be placed at any points along the blank 12 to provide window frames of other than rectangular configuration, for example, square frames or frames having more than four sides.

The foregoing is'considered as illustrative only of the V principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modiexact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A sheet metal blank for use in forming structural members such as windows comprising a body extending longitudinally a substantially greater distance than transversely, said body having a plurality of adjacent parallel sections extending the entire longitudinal length thereof, said body having V-shaped cutouts spaced along a first parallel section, hexagonally shaped cutouts spaced along the length of the body laterally aligned with each V- shaped cutout and extending through second, third and fourth parallel sections, tab means extending longitudinally of the body from first and second sections, screw receiving holes spaced along said blank in a fifth section thereof, and `screwdriver receiving holes spaced along said third section of said blank alongside each screw receiving hole.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said first section has a free longitudinal edge which defines one longitudinal edge of said body, said V-shaped cutouts extending inwardly through said free edge to substantially the full transverse depth of said first section.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein said fifth section is positioned between and integrally borders said first and second sections.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein said hexagonally shaped cut-outs comprise, in each instance,` a pair of laterally aligned oppositely directed V-shaped cut-outs in the second and fourth section, and a rectangular cut-out completely through said third section and communicating the V-shaped cut-outs in the second and fourth sections.

5. A metal Window frame member comprising an elongated body of a greater length than width,` said body having a plurality of adjacent parallel sections extending the entire longitudinal length thereof, a first one of said sections having a free edge defining one longitudinal edge of the body, a plurality of cut-outs in said first section spaced along the length thereof and dividing said rst section into a plurality of longitudinally aligned portions, said cut-outs each defining a pair of edges ahuttingly engageable with each other upon a right angular positioning of the adjacent portions relative to each other, said body including fifth, second, third and fourth sequentially adjacent sections, a second plurality of cut-outs in lateral alignment with the first plurality of cut-outs, the second plurality of cut-outs extending through said second, third and fourth sections dividing the sections into a plurality of longitudinally aligned portions, each of said second cut-outs defining, with regard to each of the second, third and fourth sections, a pair of edges abuttingly engageable with each other upon a right angular positioning of the adjacent portions relative to each other, said first and fourth sections being positionable in abutting overlying relation to each other with the second section in laterally spaced parallel relation to the overlying first and fourth sections, the third and fifth sections extending perpendicularly between the second section and the overlying first and fourth sections in laterally spaced relation to each other.

6. The frame member of claim S wherein said first plurality of cut-outs are V-shaped prior to a right angular positioning of the adjacent portions, the second plurality of cut-outs, prior to a right angular positioning of the associated adjacent portions, being hexagonal in shape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,991 10/1937 Lang 160-381 2,185,904- 1/ 1940 Stowe 287-189.36 X 2,611,633 9/1952 Webster 287-18936 X 2,952,342. 9/ 1960 Schuittker 52-658 3,074,772 1/ 1963 Kessler et al. 52-658 X 3,097,684 7/1963 Le Tarte 160--38l X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SHEET METAL BLANK FOR USE IN FORMING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS SUCH AS WINDOWS COMPRISING A BODY EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY A SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER DISTANCE THAN TRANSVERSELY, SAID BODY HAVING A PLURALITY OF ADJACENT PARALLEL SECTIONS EXTENDISNG THE ENTIRE LONGITUDINAL LENGTH THEREOF, SAID BODY HAVING V-SHAPED CUTOUTS SPACED ALONG A FIRST PARALLEL SECTION, HEXAGONALLY SHAPED CUTOUTS SPACED ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE BODY LATERALLY ALIGNED WITH EACH VSHAPED CUTOUT AND EXTENDING THROUGH SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH PARALLEL SECTIONS, TAB MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE BODY FROM FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS, SCREW RECEIVING HOLES SPACED ALONG SAID BLANK IN A FIFTH SECTION THEREOF, AND SCREWDRIVER RECEIVING HOLES SPACED ALONG SAID THIRD SECTION OF SAID BLANK ALONGSIDE EACH SCREW RECEIVING HOLE. 